When I learnt to freedive I thought I knew a little about the sport, but looking back, I realise now I knew nothing. I just jumped into the (30m) deep end, took a big breath and hoped for the best. However, I was different to most beginner freedivers, I didn’t make five beginner freediving mistakes. Oh no, my mistakes were in double figures…
When people find out I am a freediver, they first ask me how long I can hold my breath, and then how deep I can dive. After they have expressed shock and have shaken their heads, they usually say ‘I could never do that' and proceed to recite a number of complete myths about freediving. I then have to make a detailed rebuttal of their beliefs, and explain that ANYONE could achieve what I have.
Whether you freedive or scuba dive, the chances are you heard of, seen, or unfortunately experienced, mask squeeze - or face squeeze as it is sometimes known. Though for anyone who has experienced it, it feels more like a mask suck than a mask squeeze! So what is it and why does it happen?
